Flooded streets reported all around Houston

By Dale Lezon |
May 10, 2013
| Updated: May 10, 2013 1:20pm

Reader Ian Wilkinson sent in this video of a lightning strike that was recorded in Sugar Land this morning.

Photo By Houston Transtar

Traffic was slowed on the Southwest Freeway near Shepherd as high water flooded the roadway when thunderstorms rolled through the Houston area Friday.

Photo By Houston Transtar

Driver splashed through high water was seen on the South Freeway near Holly Hall as thunderstorms drenched Houston Friday.

Photo By Houston Transtar

Traffic was slowed after high water flooded portions of the Southwest freeway near Shepherd as thunderstorms rumbled through Houston late Friday morning

Julius Deguzman walks away from his home as firefighters extinguish a fire caused by lightning on Aliana Trace Drive on Friday, May 10, 2013, in Richmond. No one was home at the time but firefighters rescued the family's pet beagle that was hiding under the bed.

Julius Deguzman walks away from his home as firefighters extinguish a fire caused by lightning on Aliana Trace Drive on Friday, May 10, 2013, in Richmond. No one was home at the time but firefighters rescued the family's pet beagle that was hiding under the bed.

Julius Deguzman watches as firefighters extinguish a fire caused by lightning on Aliana Trace Drive on Friday, May 10, 2013, in Richmond. No one was home at the time but firefighters rescued the family's pet beagle that was hiding under the bed. The family had just moved into the home last November.

"Let that be my bus" says Tameka Jones as she waits for for her bus in the heavy rain in Downtown on Friday, May 10, 2013, in Houston.

Firefighters extinguish a fire caused by lightning on Aliana Trace Drive on Friday, May 10, 2013, in Richmond. No one was home at the time but firefighters rescued the family's pet beagle that was hiding under the bed. The family had just moved into the home last November.

Heavy rain falls in downtown Houston and surrounding areas.

Firefighters extinguish a fire caused by lightning on Aliana Trace Drive on Friday, May 10, 2013, in Richmond. No one was home at the time but firefighters rescued the family's pet beagle that was hiding under the bed. The family had just moved into the home last November.

Heavy rain falls in downtown Houston and surrounding areas.

Firefighters extinguish a fire caused by lightning on Aliana Trace Drive on Friday, May 10, 2013, in Richmond. No one was home at the time but firefighters rescued the family's pet beagle that was hiding under the bed. The family had just moved into the home last November.

Heavy rain falls in downtown Houston and surrounding areas.

Firefighters try to salvage contents from a house fire that was caused by lightning on Aliana Trace Drive on Friday, May 10, 2013, in Richmond. No one was home at the time but firefighters rescued the family's pet beagle that was hiding under the bed. The family had just moved into the home last November.

Heavy rain falls in downtown Houston and surrounding areas.

A firefighter extinguishes a fire caused by lightning on Aliana Trace Drive on Friday, May 10, 2013, in Richmond. No one was home at the time but firefighters rescued the family's pet beagle that was hiding under the bed. The family had just moved into the home last November.

Heavy rain falls in downtown Houston and surrounding areas.

Firefighters extinguish a fire caused by lightning on Aliana Trace Drive on Friday, May 10, 2013, in Richmond. No one was home at the time but firefighters rescued the family's pet beagle that was hiding under the bed. The family had just moved into the home last November.

Heavy rain falls in downtown Houston and surrounding areas.

A driver swerves around a flooded lane northbound on Ella after the Houston area was slammed by heavy rain.

A Houston police car blocks a flooded underpass at Polk and Milby.

Heavy rain falls in downtown Houston and surrounding areas.

Heavy rain causes ditches to fill in the Heights.

A spectacular lightning display over the Houston area Friday morning,

The scene from an office window. You can see the Sam Houston Tollway through the trees, but not much else.

The storm moves through downtown Houston at 10:35 a.m.

Drenching thunderstorms rumbled through Houston Friday knocking out power for 11,500 customers and flooding roads across the city.

Firefighters were dispatched about 11 a.m. to 5400 S. Braeswood near Chimney rock to rescue two people reportedly trapped in a car in high water, according to the Houston Fire Department.

Also about 11 a.m. traffic was clogged on the Southwest Freeway near Shepherd after high water was reported at the spot, according to Houston Transtar.

Motorist also splashed through high water about 11 a.m. on the South Freeway near the 610 South Loop.

More high water was reported about 10:30 a.m. on the west Sam Houston Toll Road near U.S 59 in southwest Houston.

Initial reports from police also indicate deep water was seen about 10:20 a.m. on portions of JFK Blvd. near Greens not far from Bush Intercontinental Airport.

More high water was reported on the 610 West Loop northbound near the Southwest Freeway. Weslyan near Bissonnet also has reports of deep water.

Deep water was also reported on Texas 225 near Lawndale.

Metro officials said high water could create delays for bus and train service and riders should be prepared for longer waits and rides.

Officials caution motorists not to drive through water on roadways because it is difficult to determine how deep the water may be.

Thunderstorms pushed through the metropolitan area Friday morning. Rainfall up to two or three inches per hour Friday was recorded in some spots, according to the National Weather Service.

Meteorologists with the weather service said a Flash Flood Warning is in place until 1 p.m. for northwest Fort Bend County and Harris County as well as portions of Waller an Austin counties. A Flash Flood Watch is in effect until 6 p.m. for much of the area, including Houston, Pasadena, Sugar Land, Katy, Richmond, Rosenberg, Humble, Tomball and The Woodlands.

Severe thunderstorms are possible in the region into the afternoon. Small hail has been reported in portions of Fort Bend County, said Dan Reilly, a meteorologist with the weather service.

Meanwhile, CenterPoint crews are working to restore power to 11,500 homes and businesses impacted by the nasty weather.

Also hard hit by outages are Sugar Land and Meadows Place, and a swath of southwest Houston that includes Hillcroft, West Bellfort and South Main.

"Normally in storms like this the high winds toppling trees on power lines," said CenterPoint spokeswoman Olivia Ross. "We still have a lot of dead trees from the drought, which ten to fall a little more easiler."